Falling Off the Edge

From Russia to a devastated sub-Saharan Africa, economic collapse and consequent protest in reaction threaten the established order. Globalisation, is putting the survival of populations in the world's poorest countries at risk. Perry is good at outlining, succinctly, the geopolitical background. The city of Bombay was so named when the Portuguese took possession of seven islands off the West Coast of India in It was actually named BomBaia which means Good Bay.

It grew over five centuries by migration, which made it into a large commercial centre and is now growing at the rate of people every day as the so-called economic miracle of India develops. However, Perry shows how the devastating flood of August brought the entire population of the super-sized city to its knees. Foreign businessmen asked the questions to try to explain how the industrial superstructure of such a large economy could collapse after just one day of heavy rain.

Why did the drains not function? Where were the police? Was there a disaster management plan? Conditions in the countryside seem much worse again, with the horrific resurgence of Tantric sorcery and female infanticide both linked to the growth in consumerism. As in China's sweatshop city of Shenzhen, described by Perry in disturbing, disconcerting but magnificent detail, ferociously ambitious and rich gangsters in India drain profits from the poor.

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Bombay Mombai attracts indigent migrants in such numbers that the majority of people live in cities. The UN expects that by Bombay will be the world's largest city of One argument that Perry continuously develops is that the system does not make the rich at all accountable to or for the growing numbers of poor. In India it is because of the weakness of political process; in China it is an authoritarian system, which suppresses unions and controls civil society. Since Perry has written this book, Mombai attacks have erupted and, of course, the pressures for social and political freedom in China grow daily.

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Frustrations, especially in the current financial crisis, may well be expressed in increasing xenophobia. This means escalating tension between China and the USA. In the steely prose of a post-modern Hemmingway, Perry outlines the appalling situation in Nepal.

The Maoist guerrilla armies in Katmandu constitute what he describes as a New Left revolution. This is also to be found spreading throughout India through the action of the rebel Naxals. The World Bank is concerned about the effect of such violent conflict resulting in decades of reduced growth.

The feeling is established that this intrepid journalist has looked the whole terrible situation directly in the eye. But since the medieval interest in science was more contemplative than practical, it did not develop the taste for magic or the occult that would come up in later periods. Contrary to popular belief, the medieval period, the age between the ancient world and the modern world, was not backward or benighted, but one of great learning and piety.

Some of the greatest works of philosophy, theology, and literature were composed in that time. Not Prepared to Donate? Pray for our team and the success of our mission Talk about Aleteia in your parish Share Aleteia content with friends and family Turn off your ad blockers when you visit Subscribe to our free newsletter and read us daily Thank you! Subscribe By signing, I acknowledge and agree to the Terms and Conditions.

Nicholas Senz Dec 05, Well, in fact, people are generally misinformed.

Columbus was hardly the first one to figure out the world isn't flat. Medievals thought the world was flat One claim we often hear is that medieval people believed the world to be flat, and that it was only in the period of the Enlightenment and the Age of Discovery that the likes of Columbus and Magellan proved that the earth was in fact round.

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